The next day, Chen Biao slept until noon.
He rubbed his belly, washed up in a daze, gulped down the meat porridge, ate a boiled egg, and finally woke up.
"Where's my dad?" Chen Biao was furious when he remembered that his father went crazy last night and woke him up in the middle of the night.
Li Zhen handed Chen Biao a piece of fruit and said, "He went to arrange the farming early in the morning."
Zhu Yuanzhang had not yet achieved the transition from separatist warlord power to separatist political power. The economic model of the territory he occupied was a military-civilian integrated farming system, with the militia being self-sufficient and not involving the land tax of ordinary people.
However, with the help of Chen Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang had begun to formulate a more reasonable policy on commercial taxation. Now, Zhu Yuanzhang's money, in addition to the Chen family's business, depended entirely on the taxes paid by merchants.
Chen Biao helped with the policies and details of military farming.
The military farming system formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang himself was too crude, put too much pressure on the militia, and could not effectively liberate the militia's productivity.
However, when it comes to all policy making, Chen Biao only talks, and the person who runs around to implement and improve the policies is "Chen Guorui".
Chen Biao slept for five hours every night and took a half-hour nap at noon. His father called him a lazy pig every day, but he also indulged his laziness.
Hearing that his father was busy, Chen Biao would not go and cause trouble for himself.
After eating and drinking, he was in a daze for a while, and finally sighed and went to the study to write "The Characteristic Well-Field System of the Ming Dynasty (First Edition)".
It’s not that Chen Biao has become a workaholic, it’s just that he is too bored.
Entertainment was scarce in this era. Chen Biao made many toys for children, which Chen Chong could play with all day long, but for Chen Biao himself, it was torture.
Chen Biao's daily entertainment is only reading and daydreaming, and he is getting more and more bored as he becomes more idle.
Only after Zhu Yuanzhang asked Chen Biao to participate in troublesome affairs did Chen Biao perk up and stop being drowsy every day.
To put it in a less moral way, for Chen Biao, dealing with these troublesome matters is just "playing games."
He was only responsible for giving orders, but the person who implemented it was Zhu Yuanzhang, and the person who took responsibility was also Zhu Yuanzhang. What's the difference between this and playing video games?
When Chen family's assets grew and Zhu Yuanzhang's territory became more and more prosperous, Chen Biao felt the pleasure of playing a strategy game and seeing the results.
Unfortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang's territory was not his territory, which made him feel a little sad when he was helping Zhu Yuanzhang.
Chen Biao wrote for a quarter of an hour, then got up and did some radio gymnastics.
When he said he wanted to lose weight, he was serious.
While doing radio gymnastics, Chen Biao kept muttering bad things about Chen Guorui.
If Chen Guorui had not been so honest and kind, and too loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang, and Xu Da and Tang He had not called my father the boss, wouldn't my father have stabbed Zhu Yuanzhang in the back and put on the yellow robe for sure?
Wait, Xu Da and Tang He both called my dad the boss, so what about Zhu Yuanzhang?
Chen Biao narrowed his eyes and felt something was wrong.
"Uncle, it seems that the Huaixi generals on the street where I live all call my father the boss. Is it because my father is the oldest?" Chen Biao asked while Li Zhen was helping Chen Biao wipe his sweat.
Li Zhen laughed: "Of course not. They call Guo Rui Boss because he pays them."
Chen Biao was puzzled: "Ah? Isn't it Marshal Zhu who distributes the rations and salaries?"
Li Zhen said, "That being said, Guorui is Marshal Zhu's money bag. Whether Marshal Zhu's army can have food depends entirely on Guorui and you. Among the Huaixi generals, Marshal Zhu is the Marshal, and isn't your father the boss? Even Marshal Zhu would jokingly call your father the boss in private."
Chen Biao's heart ached: "Will my father agree?"
Li Zhen changed the cloth covering Chen Biao's back and said, "When the Marshal called your father 'Boss', he started rolling on the ground, saying that he had broken a grain of millet into two petals and asked the Marshal to take it easy."
Children sweat easily. In families like the Shen family, children's clothes would be changed immediately if they were soaked with sweat, requiring several changes daily. Silk clothes, difficult to wash, were discarded after each change. This practice was even more prevalent in the imperial palace.
The Chen family was also a wealthy family, but Chen Biao refused to wear clothes that could only be worn once, and usually put cotton cloth on his back, and only changed the cotton cloth when it got wet with sweat.
Li Zhen was used to a hard life and lived frugally, but he knew his place clearly and never thought of stopping Chen Biao from living a more luxurious life.
Unexpectedly, Chen Biao knew how to be frugal at such a young age, which made Li Zhen feel a little distressed.
Considering the amount of money Chen Biao earned for the Chen family, why would a child like him need to be overly frugal?
But Chen Biao insisted on doing so, so Li Zhen could only change the cloth towel more frequently to make Chen Biao more comfortable.
After changing the cloth and wiping Chen Biao's face, hands, and arms with a warm handkerchief, Li Zhen continued, "Biao'er, you need to have more confidence in Guo Rui. He's only honest in front of you, but very shrewd outside. Otherwise, how could he be so trusted by Marshal Zhu?"
Chen Biao was persuaded by Li Zhen: "Okay, maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe Marshal Zhu won't be so stingy."
Chen Biao stretched his body and continued to write the outline of the well-field system with Ming Dynasty characteristics.
Zhu Yuanzhang, looking like a clay figure, returned to his temporary home.
Behind him, Xu Da, who also looked like a clay figure, staggered from side to side and almost bumped into a tree several times.
Zhu Yuanzhang complained: "What's wrong with you today? Why are you so distracted? When I was digging, the hoe flew out and almost hit me."
Xu Da tried to open his eyes wide. "Boss, don't you know why I'm so distracted? I also want to ask, why are you still so energetic today?"
Last night, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled him into the yard and chatted with him for a long time. The next morning, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled him to work again. He was so sleepy that he couldn't even open his eyes.
Xu Da really didn't understand. Doesn't everyone have two eyes, a nose and a mouth ?
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You are getting lazier because you sleep too much."
Xu Da said: "...I didn't even sleep for two hours last night!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You've slept for two hours! Isn't that enough?!"
Xu Da: "...It's not enough, it's not enough. I want to go back to sleep. Boss, you can do whatever you want."
After saying this, Xu Da wanted to run away.
Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed Xu Da's sleeve and said, "Why are you running? You're so lazy. Come with me to see Biao'er first. I told Biao'er your true identity."
Xu Da forced himself to cheer up. "Huh? Why? No, Biao'er still doesn't know my true identity? I chose this new name so carelessly. He's so smart, shouldn't he have known it long ago?"
Tang He is fine, but are the names of Xu Da and Xu Da very different?
Zhu Yuanzhang ignored the mud on his hands and scratched his head, which made it even dirtier. "He trusts us. If we don't say anything, he won't doubt us. Oh, why am I starting to feel guilty?"
Xu Da said, "You should feel guilty. Look at Biao'er, he's so worried about Marshal Zhu killing Chen Guorui that he's lost weight."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Don't worry, he's not worried anymore. I told Biao'er that if Marshal Zhu wants to kill someone who's more meritorious than him, he'll kill you first. By the time you're killed, we'll still have time to run away."
Xu Da rolled his eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Boss Chen, thank you so much."
Listen, is this even human language?! How did I end up with such a boss?
I shouldn't have stolen that chicken when I was young! If I hadn't stolen that chicken, I wouldn't have been chased by the landlord, I wouldn't have been rescued by Zhu Yuanzhang, and I wouldn't have recognized Zhu Yuanzhang as my boss!
But the stolen chicken tasted really good. Now I can eat chicken whenever I want, but it doesn't have the same fragrance as I remember.
Xu Da smacked his lips and said, "Boss, since you're letting me take the blame for you, can you let Biao'er roast a chicken for me today? The beggar's chicken we had last time was really delicious, but it's a pity that you grabbed all the chicken legs."
Zhu Yuanzhang scolded him, "My son cooked the chicken for me, and you still want to eat chicken legs? Didn't you just eat roast chicken two days ago? You're still eating it? Aren't you tired of it?"
Xu Da was speechless: "Boss, Boss Chen, Boss Guorui, please be honest with yourself. Did you eat my roast chicken?"
Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly remembered that Xu Da had snatched the roast chicken from him before he could even eat it, and said awkwardly, "Okay, I'll ask Biao'er."
Xu Da was satisfied and said, "Boss, what do you want me to do with Xu Da's identity?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Biao'er said he wants to establish a new military farm. Tell Biao'er that Marshal Zhu has given you full authority over the affairs of Yangzhou City, and you go ahead and implement them. Alas, we really can't let Chen Guorui always take charge, otherwise Chen Guorui will become more powerful than the master, and Biao'er will be worried again."
Xu Da said angrily, "Yes, yes, Chen Guorui cannot surpass his master in achievements, but Xu Da can. When the time comes, Marshal Zhu can chop me down."
Zhu Yuanzhang said carelessly: "Don't worry, when you are beheaded, I will definitely build a tomb for you in my hometown, and take Biao'er to smash the pot for you."
Xu Da was so angry that he laughed: "A cenotaph? I don't even have a fucking corpse? Even if I died without a complete body, I still have a corpse!"
Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da were talking nonsense, which made Chen Ying, who seemed to have no sense of existence behind them, twitch his mouth.
What's the point of whether the body is dead or not, whether it should be chopped up or not, godfather and Marshal Xu, don't you two really think it's unlucky?
Seeing that the two were about to rush directly into the study to find Chen Biao, Chen Yingcai spoke up: "Godfather, General Xu, should we wash the mud off our bodies before going to see Biaoer?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked down at the mud all over his body and said, "No need. I want to smear Biao'er with mud and then take him to take a bath together."
Xu Da: "...Wenying!"
Chen Ying: “Yes!”
Xu Da: "Do it!"
Xu Da and Chen Ying held Zhu Yuanzhang on the left and right and dragged him to the well.
Zhu Yuanzhang yelled, "What are you doing? Are you rebelling?"
Xu Da: "Ah, yes, yes, rebellion."
Chen Ying: "Foster father, please don't bully Biao'er."
Chen Wenzheng, who had been hiding in a tree and eating some of Li Baoer's preserved meat jerky, jumped down from the tree and said, "What are you doing? Let go of my godfather!"
Xu Da: "He's going to get covered in mud."
Chen Ying: "Help me, quickly drag my godfather to take a shower!"
Chen Wenzheng laughed: "Isn't this fun? Godfather, let me help you...Ah! Baoer, when did you show up!"
Li Baoer said fiercely, "What do you say? I finally caught you! Give me back my jerky!"
Chen Wenzheng clutched the jar of jerky meat tightly with both hands and ran away: "Godfather! I believe in you, you will definitely be able to break free! I'll go first!"
Li Baoer: "Foster father, go take a shower quickly... Zhu Wenzheng! Stop right there!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was dragged to the ground by Xu Da and Chen Ying, his feet forming two bars. "Zhu Wenzheng! Is your adoptive father not as valuable as a jar of jerky in your heart? You unfilial son! And Bao'er, a jar of jerky, how can you be so stingy!"
Chen Wenzhen and Li Baoer ran away without answering Zhu Yuanzhang at all.
In the study, Chen Biao paused in confusion, "Uncle, did you hear any shrill howling?"
Li Zhen helped Chen Biao spread out the newly written paper to dry, and said calmly, "Maybe the stubborn donkeys in the backyard are fighting again."
Chen Biao frowned: "Donkey's bray? It doesn't sound like one."
Li Zhen said, "Donkeys don't usually bray like that. Only stubborn donkeys bray like that when they're having fun and fighting."
Is that so? Is that so? Chen Biao scratched his head and accidentally drew a line on his face with the brush, turning him into a little cat.
Li Zhen held back her laughter and helped Chen Biao wipe his face clean, feeling it was a pity.
If he could draw, he would definitely draw this scene for Biaoer.
Chen Biao had just finished writing the rough content of "The Characteristic Well-Field System of the Ming Dynasty (First Edition)" and was waiting to add details based on actual conditions when Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da and Chen Ying finally finished bathing and changed their clothes and came over.
Chen Biao was jumping around in the study to stretch his muscles. When he saw the three people coming, his eyes lit up and he jumped over like a little cannonball.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled widely, half-knelt down, and spread his arms.
Chen Biao slipped under Zhu Yuanzhang's arm and said, "Brother Ying! I missed you so much!"
Chen Ying picked up Chen Biao and rubbed his soft face: "Brother Ying misses Biaoer too."
Zhu Yuanzhang stiffened.
Xu Da: “Hahahahahahahahahaha!” Even if I’m extremely sleepy, I’ll still laugh out loud!
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up straight, punched Xu Da first, then turned around and said resentfully: "Biao'er, Dad is here."
Chen Biao bared his teeth: "I don't want the father who woke me up from my deep sleep last night."
Xu Da rubbed the spot where Zhu Yuanzhang had hit him and said, "Boss, you woke me up in the middle of the night, but why did you bother Biao'er? Biao'er is so small, if he doesn't get enough sleep, he won't grow tall and become a dwarf. Then you'll be the one crying."
Zhu Yuanzhang stiffened his neck and said, "Shut up! Hey, Biao'er, doesn't Daddy know he's wrong? Come, let Daddy hug you."
Chen Ying looked at Chen Biao, and only after Chen Biao nodded did he hand Chen Biao to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Chen Ying, then laughed out loud: "Now that you have Biao'er, you don't listen to me anymore."
Before Chen Ying could say anything, Chen Biao said arrogantly, "Of course! If I disagree with you, Dad, then I'm definitely right!"
Xu Da: "Biao'er is right!"
Li Zhen: "That's correct."
Chen Ying: "My stepmother said that we should listen to Biao'er in everything."
"Great, great, you two are still teaming up, right?" Zhu Yuanzhang wiped the spot where his son and Chen Ying had just rubbed against each other, then rubbed his son's head twice. "The bag has shrunk so quickly? You're worthy of being my son, you're so tough!"
Chen Biao pulled Zhu Yuanzhang's loose hair and said, "Dad, you not only woke me up last night, but also woke up Uncle Xu. When did you fall asleep?"
Li Zhen smiled. "More than that. After Guorui came back, he continued reading until dawn. He turned off the lights and took a nap for less than half an hour before getting up again to work on the farm outside the city."
Chen Biao pulled Zhu Yuanzhang's hair hard: "Dad!"
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…I’m here, I’m here!”
Chen Biao said helplessly: "Even if you are not mentally sleepy, your body can't bear it. Take a nap later, I will sleep with you."
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head: "Oh, okay."
Zhu Yuanzhang would easily get sleepy with his son sleeping beside him. Even if he wanted to get up from his nap and continue working, he couldn't do it.
Xu Da yawned, "I have to go back and take a nap too. Your father thinks everyone is like him and can stay up all night. Oh, your uncle Xu, I almost threw my hoe out today."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "And then it almost hit me."
Chen Biao said, "You deserve it, don't you? This is karma! Who told you to disturb my sweet dreams so late at night?"
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
Xu Da was overjoyed. See, finally someone can keep you in check!
"Biao'er, I heard from the boss that you have a new plan for military farming." After seeing Zhu Yuanzhang being humiliated, Xu Da finally cheered up a little.
Chen Biao used both hands to push Zhu Yuanzhang, who also wanted to rub his face, and turned his head and said, "It's not about farming, it's about dividing the land. Marshal Zhu has occupied so much land, it's time to think about how to establish a stable regime. Dividing the land is the first step. Uncle Xu, if you are very sleepy, go to sleep, there is no rush, there are not so many refugees in Yangzhou now... Dad! You have a face full of stubble, don't rub my face! It hurts so much!"
Chen Ying watched helplessly as Chen Biao was pinned down and bullied by Zhu Yuanzhang, and finally suffered the pain of having his face pricked by Zhu Yuanzhang's beard. He was at a loss what to do.
If only my adoptive mother were here, I would have dared to grab it directly. Chen Ying felt very uncomfortable when he saw Zhu Yuanzhang laughing wildly and Chen Biao covering his face with anger.
It was not until Zhu Yuanzhang stuffed Chen Biao back into Chen Ying's arms and went to read the land distribution policy written by Chen Biao that Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Da really wanted to see what Chen Biao had written, but he was indeed so sleepy that he was a little confused.
In the end, Xu Da found a bed next door and fell asleep, and couldn't even wait to go back to his own residence.
Chen Biao poked his head out of his brother Ying's arms and started to talk to Zhu Yuanzhang fiercely.
Look at you, look at you! What a sin you have committed!
Chen Ying hurriedly pressed Chen Biao into his arms, fearing that Chen Biao would anger Zhu Yuanzhang, and Zhu Yuanzhang would use his bearded face to punish Chen Biao's poor little face.
Fortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang was already attracted by Chen Biao's "Ming Dynasty's Characteristic Well-Field System" and did not care about Chen Biao's nagging.
Zhu Yuanzhang first glanced over it and asked, "What does 'Great Ming' mean? Does it mean it's greater than the Little Ming King?"
Chen Biao said, "What Little Ming King? Our Ming has nothing to do with them! The sun and the moon are bright. Our Marshal Zhu cleared the haze of the world and let the sun and the moon's glory return to the earth. What does this have to do with the Little Ming King? They want to return to the Great Song. Does Marshal Zhu also want to return to the Great Song? The Song Dynasty is so small! Why go back?"
Chen Biao paused and said, "Not only do those Han Song guys want to return to the Song Dynasty, they also claim to be descendants of Song Huizong and are eager to take the blame for the Jingkang Incident. Even if they want to claim to be descendants of the Song Dynasty royal family, isn't Song Taizu good enough? How impressive."
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
This year, Zhu Yuanzhang conquered Wuzhou, Yangzhou, and other places, and most of the land in eastern Zhejiang fell into his hands. He had originally planned to be a little more high-profile this year, shouting slogans and recruiting more heroes to join him.
He had already thought of a slogan, which was "The mountains and rivers cover the land of China, the sun and the moon reopen the sky of the Song Dynasty", or "The sun and the moon in the sky open the ecliptic, and the mountains and rivers of the Song Dynasty are restored to their treasure map."
Listen, listen, how domineering!
After hearing what his son said, Zhu Yuanzhang choked and broke out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, after those corrupt scholars left angrily with their bags, Zhu Yuanzhang temporarily put the slogan-calling issue on hold because no one helped him write.
If this slogan was shouted out, wouldn't Biaoer's impression of Zhu Yuanzhang be even worse?
Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and said calmly: "Indeed. The Ming Dynasty has nothing to do with Han and Song..."
Wait, I haven't even decided on a name for my country yet, and Biao'er already said it should be "Da Ming"? Sure enough, I, Zhu, am destined to be the emperor!
Zhu Yuanzhang was just happy for a moment, but suddenly remembered that the Ming Dynasty would still be destroyed in a few hundred years. The "strong man sent from heaven" that Biao'er mentioned would step on the decaying corpse of the Ming Dynasty and truly rebuild the world. His happiness suddenly disappeared.
What's so great about being a founding emperor? There have been so many founding emperors in history, and I'm just one of them.
Why am I not the one who created the world!
No, what did Biaoer say before? Success doesn't have to be mine, but I must be part of it. I have to work harder.
"This well-field system certainly looks good," Zhu Yuanzhang said. "But what is it, and why is it a unique feature of the Ming Dynasty?"
Chen Biao was speechless: "Dad, just tell me you don't understand at all, I won't laugh at you."
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Give me the banner!"
Chen Ying held Chen Biao and retreated, ready to run away at any time.
Chen Biao said, "Give it to him, I don't believe he can do anything to me! Humph, Dad, if you poke me with your beard again, I won't explain it to you, figure it out yourself!"
Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed Chen Biao and said, "You are becoming more and more arrogant, you unfilial son!"
Chen Biao made a face: "If you are unfilial, then you are unfilial. If you have the guts, get rid of this unfilial son of mine!"
Zhu Yuanzhang cursed, "Wenying! What are you still doing here?! What are you doing? Get out of here!"
Chen Ying: "...Yes." It seemed that Biao'er was fine. Even if his adoptive father was angry, he would only take his anger out on others, not scold Biao'er.
When Chen Ying left the study, Li Zhen was feeding chickens in the courtyard outside.
Even though Yangzhou was just a temporary residence, Li Zhen would make good use of all the open space, growing vegetables and raising chickens. When she moved out, she would take away what she could, and leave the rest to the next generation to take care of it, so it wouldn't go to waste.
Seeing Chen Ying come out, Li Zhen smiled and said, "Did you get scolded? When the father and son are talking about serious matters, no one should get close to them. Guorui is such a bad character. Every time Biaoer yells at him, he will take it out on others."
Chen Ying touched his nose and said, "I know, but I just want to see Biao'er more. I'm going to serve under other generals soon."
Chen Ying performed very well this time. Zhu Yuanzhang would not let Chen Ying stay in Yangzhou to farm. He wanted Chen Ying to experience more wars and make more contributions.
Chen Ying would do his best to repay Zhu Yuanzhang's appreciation. However, the thought of not being able to see Biao'er for a long time made Chen Ying feel disappointed.
Li Zhen understood Chen Ying's feelings very well. Biao'er was so adorable, and after spending so much time with her, she would definitely miss her terribly if she was away for more than five days.
After living with Biao'er for several years, Li Zhen didn't even think about his son often. It was as if Biao'er had become his precious little son, like his older son, Li Bao'er, whom he had picked up from the fields during the grain harvest. Seeing him occasionally was fine, but if he saw him too often, he would get annoyed.
"After you left, Biaoer missed you every day. Whenever he thought of you, he would ask a craftsman to make something I couldn't understand." Li Zhen said, "When you meet him next time, there will definitely be a surprise."
Chen Ying smiled and said, "Well, I will definitely come back with the credit!"
Li Zhen said with a straight face, "You must come back safely. It doesn't matter if you have any merits or not, but don't lose any limbs, or Biao'er will cry."
Chen Ying immediately said seriously: "I will try my best to come back safely."
Li Zhen stuffed the rice peel in her hand to Chen Ying and said, "That's right. I'll go tell the kitchen to light the fire, and you help me feed the chickens. When Biao'er finishes his work, he'll come out and see you."
Chen Ying took the bowl of husks and sat on the steps outside the door, feeding the chickens while waiting for someone in a daze.
In the study, Chen Biao sat in Zhu Yuanzhang's arms and took great pains to finally explain to Zhu Yuanzhang the difference between the well-field system mentioned by Mencius and the nonsense well-field system he had made up.
Under the Shang and Zhou dynasties' well-field system, all farmland belonged to the Zhou emperor and could not be bought or sold. Instead, the emperor granted it to the princes, who then sent common people to cultivate it. The common people were essentially the princes' slaves.
Later, as productivity developed, princes began to establish private fields outside the well-field system, and ordinary people also secretly reclaimed wasteland. Since private fields were exempt from taxes, the well-field system fell into disuse. Later, various states implemented reforms, abolishing the well-field system and imposing a tax based on the acreage, gradually ushering in a feudal society.
Private land ownership in feudal society inevitably led to land annexation. At the beginning of a dynasty, the equal-field system was implemented. When land annexation became severe and most people had no place to live, the old dynasty would be overthrown and a new one established, and the cycle would repeat.
Knowledgeable people, represented by Confucianism, hoped to restore the well-field system and have the land in the world be distributed by the court. This would curb land annexation and ensure that the poor would have basic food to eat.
But obviously this is impossible. The big pot meal is not advisable. Those who understand will understand.
The economic philosophy of later Confucian sages all began with the well-field system, for example, taxes were still collected based on the amount of land, but the land was publicly owned. This point is very similar to the later land contracting system.
Chen Biao only began to study history books seriously in this life. After studying, he couldn't help but sigh. China's continuous history of five thousand years is really too amazing.
Even for some modern problems, by looking through history books, we can find ways to adapt them to the policies implemented by our ancestors and apply them to the present.
" All , not the emperor. Just like at the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the equal-field system was implemented, whereby both men and women could be granted land upon reaching adulthood. However, the land was only contracted to the common people for a period of thirty years. After thirty years, the court would redistribute the land again, giving the living people an additional thirty years. For those who had passed away, the land would be reclaimed and redistributed."
"During the land contract period, residents can temporarily transfer the remaining contract period to others. This transfer is equivalent to a land sale..."
Grain is the foundation of a country and food is the lifeblood of the people.
To develop productivity, we must first start with having enough food. Only when people have enough food can they have the leisure to learn other things and promote the development of production relations.
Guan Zhong once said, "When the granaries are full, people will know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they will know honor and disgrace." This means the same thing.
Zhu Yuanzhang rested his chin on Chen Biao's head. It was still raining outside and the moist wind was a little cool. Holding his warm son in his arms was just the right temperature.
Chen Biao said that the people all had their own land and could have enough food to eat.
Chen Biao said that the sale and purchase of land is not prohibited. If the people have money, they can temporarily transfer the land and raise capital to become businessmen, study, or do other things, and will not be tied to the land.
Chen Biao stated that with more powerful farming tools, individuals could cultivate more land, and land consolidation could also increase grain production. However, this consolidation must be controlled by the state, hence the thirty-year period. Even if illegal land consolidation occurs within this thirty-year period, a thorough investigation will prevent it from becoming a chronic problem.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "In this way, can we guarantee that the people will always have the most basic way to survive?"
Chen Biao laughed, "Impossible. Dad, policies are dead, but people are alive. No matter how good a policy is, it's useless if no one implements it."
Chen Biao pointed at what he had written. "For example, if we re-calculate the land and population every thirty years, and if corrupt officials and local tyrants collude to attach land to deceased people, then all the land actually belongs to the tyrants, and there's no way to curb land annexation. Or maybe a certain emperor simply abolished this policy..."
Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted, "Marshal Zhu can issue orders, but the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed by future generations!"
Chen Biao said, "If Marshal Zhu really gave this order, then the Ming Dynasty would really decay very quickly. Dad, you still have to seriously study the philosophy in the first half of that book. Everything is constantly evolving. All actions must be based on current realities..."
Zhu Yuanzhang squeezed Chen Biao's head hard, and Chen Biao knew that his father had fainted from what he had heard.
Chen Biao used his own experience to explain: "In a normal family, it's impossible for a father to listen to his five-year-old son's nonsense. When my father didn't know I was a fairy boy, he wouldn't listen to my nonsense either. But now my father is holding me and listening to my nonsense. This is why all actions should be based on current reality."
Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to laugh: "I understand."
Biaoer’s teachings are always so easy to understand and very interesting.
Chen Biao said, "So after Marshal Zhu established this rule, future generations may not be able to change it when they need to due to ancestral precepts. And Dad, you haven't read enough history books. There are precedents in history books that say 'ancestral precepts cannot be changed,' which results in a game between ministers and the emperor. Any ancestral precepts that benefit ministers cannot be changed, and any ancestral precepts that do not benefit ministers must be adjusted... Dad, it's the same old saying, rules are dead, people are alive."
Zhu Yuanzhang was gloomy for a long time, and his arms around his son tightened a little: "In other words, when the emperor is wise, this new well-field system can make the people live a good life. But as long as a bad emperor or a useless emperor comes, no matter how good the policy is, it will be useless."
Chen Biao nodded.
The father and son were silent for a long time. Chen Biao stretched his neck and nudged Zhu Yuanzhang's chin with the top of his head. "Although Marshal Zhu treats his meritorious officials badly, he's not bad to the people. If he can accept this well-field system, at least the people can breathe a sigh of relief while Marshal Zhu governs the country. Then, we can let Marshal take the next step of enlightening the people."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "If the people can have enough food to eat, they can study and learn to read, right?"
Chen Biao: "Yes. Only when knowledge is not in the hands of a few people can the corrupt system be overthrown from within. Otherwise, we can only wait for external forces to destroy everything, and rise from the ashes, and be reborn from despair."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Biao'er, are you referring to the Mongols?"
Chen Biao shook his head. "Dad, you've already gone to sea. Don't you know how big the world is? We think we are the center of the world, and Europeans think so too. When we stop, they run forward with all their might. Do you think we, who are lagging behind, will be beaten? We are more advanced than them now because we run faster, not because we are inherently superior to them."
Zhu Yuanzhang was dissatisfied: "No, we are definitely born superior to them!"
Chen Biao was shocked by his father's arrogance. "Well, as long as you're happy. Anyway, let's show this modified version of the well-field system to Marshal Zhu first. It's difficult to enforce in other places where wealthy merchants and families occupy the land. Everyone in Yangzhou has fled. We should divide the land quickly before those absconding tycoons return with the Yuan Dynasty deeds to claim the land. It will be troublesome if we're late."
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyelids.
Trouble? What kind of trouble? They can even use the land deeds from the Yuan Dynasty to ask Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty to give us the land?
The Ming Dynasty will not be overthrown for hundreds of years, and I have just founded my country!
Uh, no, I haven’t founded the country yet.
Zhu Yuanzhang kissed Chen Biao and said, "Biao'er, your well-field system is really amazing. I'm going to discuss it with your Uncle Xu now!"
Chen Biao wiped the saliva marks on his face in disgust: "Don't go! Uncle Xu just fell asleep, don't wake him up! You should take a nap too! As promised, I will sleep with you!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pleaded, "Biao'er, you also said that the land distribution is very urgent. How can I sleep? I don't need to sleep for a while."
Chen Biao jumped off Zhu Yuanzhang's lap, pulled Zhu Yuanzhang's sleeve and walked out: "The land distribution is not a big deal, but sleeping is! Besides, the well-field system I wrote is still missing a lot of details, you need to ask more people. The body is the capital of work, get enough sleep and then go to work with full energy!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was dragged out by his five-year-old son's sleeve, saying, "I am full of energy now."
Chen Biao roared, "I said you were sleepy, and you were sleepy!"
Zhu Yuanzhang pleaded: "Biao'er, I'm really not sleepy, I want to work."
Chen Biao was very fierce: "No, you are very sleepy and you don't want to work!"
Seeing Chen Biao dragging Zhu Yuanzhang out of the study, Chen Ying stood up from the steps and said, "Eat something before going to bed. My godfather has been hoeing the fields all morning and must be hungry."
Chen Biao said, "Okay! Brother Ying, help me hold my dad, let's charge!"
Zhu Yuanzhang: "What are you charging at... Hey?! Wenying! You're courting death!"
Chen Ying picked up Chen Biao with one hand and grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang's wrist with the other, then rushed forward, almost causing Zhu Yuanzhang to stagger and fall to the ground.
Chen Biao lay on Chen Ying's shoulder and waved to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Dad, run!"
Zhu Yuanzhang yelled, "Run away! Stop pulling! I'll run by myself!"
Chen Biao: “Hahahaha.”
Chen Ying endured for a long time, but finally couldn't help laughing out loud.
Zhu Yuanzhang cursed and laughed at the same time: "I told you to let go, you two little bastards!"
Chen Wenzheng jumped down from the tree again: "Is dinner ready?"
Li Baoer appeared from nowhere again: "Give me back the jerky!"
Li Zhen carried a plate from the kitchen to the dining hall and said, "Bao'er, you've been catching Wen Zheng for so long, but you still haven't caught him? You're not that good at this."
Li Baoer's face turned red with anger.
While the Zhu family was playing and making noise while preparing to eat, in the guest room, Xu Da kicked open the thin blanket, scratched his exposed belly, and began snoring loudly.
He was sleeping soundly and didn't know that he was almost pulled out of bed by Marshal Zhu again.